The Point: Rail improvements will allow train service every 30 minutes, reduce traffic congestion, improve air quality, and help disadvantaged communities
Final design and construction of three projects to improve service on the 91/Perris Valley Line are on track, thanks to the California State Transportation Agency’s award on July 7 of a $25 million grant to Metrolink and RCTC.
The Transit and Intercity Rail Corridor Program grant will be matched with $32 million in federal funds previously secured by RCTC. The $57 million will help fund the 91/PVL upgrades that will ultimately allow for service to operate every half-hour in both directions.
Other improvements include 2.5 additional miles of double track and a second platform at the Moreno Valley/March Field Station, along with expansion and upgrades to the Perris-South Station and Layover Facility. This will improve service operations and add capacity for overnight train storage.
“This project is an excellent example of the partnership between Metrolink and RCTC and their commitment to improve the 91/Perris Valley Line for underserved Riverside County residents,” said RCTC Commissioner Karen Spiegel, who also serves as a member of the Metrolink Board of Directors and is Riverside County’s 2nd District Supervisor. “As the fastest growing county in the state, these Metrolink improvements come at a critical time to address the significant transportation needs for our region,” she said.
Projects that offer alternatives to driving the area’s crowded highways will help RCTC and Metrolink meet climate change goals and offer expanded travel and employment options to disadvantaged communities. The 91/Perris Valley Line upgrades also will allow southern California visitors during the 2028 Olympics to easily connect to Lake Perris, which will host canoe sprint and rowing events as part of the summer games.
The first phase of the Moreno Valley/March Field Station Improvements Project will start later this year with construction of a second platform and upgrades to 2.5 miles of track. This work is expected to be completed in 2024. The Perris-South Station improvements are scheduled to be completed in 2027.